Begonia plant named ‘Yaspmon’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of hybrid  Begonia , ‘Yaspmon’, characterized by large, single, pink-orange colored flowers, its compact, mounded to semi-trailing plant habit and its suitability for use in baskets, patio containers, and as a garden bedding plant.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is co-pending with U.S. Plant patent applications forcultivars derived from the same breeding program entitled Begonia PlantNamed ‘Yamance’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,817), Begonia Plant Named‘Yagance’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,777), and Begonia Plant Named ‘YABOS’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,093).

Botanical classification: Begonia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Yaspmon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant of hybrid origin, botanically known as Begonia ‘Yaspmon’ and willbe referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Yaspmon’.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding programconducted by the inventor at his nursery in Congleton, Cheshire, U. K.The overall purpose of the breeding program is to make selections ofBegonia plants with compact plant habits suitable for gardens, basketsand patio containers. ‘Yaspmon’ was selected as a single unique plant in2005 and derived from a cross made between an unnamed proprietary plantof hybrid Begonia as the female parent plant and Begonia boliviensis‘YABOS’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,093) as the male parent.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished byterminal stem cuttings in Congleton, Cheshire, U. K. in 2005 by theInventor. It has been determined that the characteristics of thiscultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar, which in combination distinguish‘Yaspmon’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia.

-   -   1. ‘Yaspmon’ exhibits large single flowers that are pink-orange        in color.    -   2. ‘Yaspmon’ exhibits a compact, semi-trialing habit.    -   3. ‘Yaspmon’ is suitable for use in baskets, patio containers,        and garden bedding.

In comparison, the unnamed female parent of ‘Yaspmon’ differs from‘Yaspmon’ in having double flowers and the male parent, ‘YABOS’, differsfrom ‘Yaspmon’ in having smaller flowers that are red-orange (less pink)in color. Its sibling selection, ‘Yamance’, differs from ‘Yaspmon’ inhaving a more trailing plant habit and smaller male flowers while itssibling selection, ‘Yagance’, differs in having a more trailing planthabit and bi-colored flowers. ‘Yaspmon’ can also be compared to‘Bonfire’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,108), which differs from ‘Yaspmon’ inhaving flowers that are red-orange rather than pink-orange in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Begonia. The photographs weretaken in September of a plant approximately 6 months in age as grown ina two-liter container in Swavesey, Campbridgeshire, U.K.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Yaspmon’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of‘Yaspmon’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Begonia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants of the new cultivarapproximately 6 months in age as grown in two-liter containers undergreenhouse conditions with ambient light in Congleton, Cheshire, U. K.The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not beentested under all possible environmental conditions. The colordetermination is in accordance with the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General plant characteristics:    -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous tuberous perennial, grown for use in            baskets, patio containers and as a garden bedding plant.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, mounded to semi-trailing.        -   Flowering period.—From April to November in the U.K.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 22 cm in height and about            45 cm in spread.        -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 10.        -   Culture.—Grows in any commercial soil or growing media, 12            hours of light is needed for production in the winter            months.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fleshy to fibrous with tubers produced for            over-wintering.        -   Tubers.—Unevenly globose in shape with upper surface often            flattened or slightly depressed in the center, average of 80            mm in diameter (larger on older plants), surface is somewhat            lobed and slightly corky, color between 199C and 199D.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Terminal stem cuttings.        -   Time required for root development.—10 to 14 days at 22° C.        -   Time required for root development.—5 to 8 weeks to reach            commercial size.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem size.—Average of 24 cm in length and 1 cm in width with            lateral branches about 5 mm in width.        -   Stem shape.—Round, solid.        -   Stem color.—199B when shaded becoming 178A in full sun.        -   Stem surface.—Smooth with young stem weakly pubescent,            lenticels absent.        -   Internode length.—Average of 2 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branched on non-flowering nodes.        -   Branching angle at emergence.—About 45°.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate, asymmetric with one side wider than            the other.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Rounded on narrower side, cordate on wider side.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color upper surface; closest to            146B, color lower surface; closest to 195A.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate with short bristles emerging from tips            of the teeth.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface; sparse fine            pubescence.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface; closest to 147A, lower surface;            147C near veins and tinged with 175B between veins.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 11 cm in length and 3.7 cm in width.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Petioles.—About 1.8 cm in length and 2 mm in width, surface            is moderately pubescent with simple hairs, color 177B.        -   Stipules.—Triangular in shape, 39B in color and rapidly            becoming dry and papery, about 6 mm in length and 3 mm in            width.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—2 to 3 flowered cyme produced            sequentially in the axils of the upper leaves, monoecious            with terminal male flowers developing before the lateral            female flowers.        -   Flower persistence.—Self-cleaning.        -   Flower type.—Single, funnel formed with un-fused tepals.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Peduncles.—About 4.5 cm in length and 2 mm in width, 42B in            color, surface is glabrous.        -   Bracts.—2, present at base of cyme, round in shape,            shallowly bifid apex, about 9 mm in length and width, 180B            in color, margin is finely serrated.-   Male flowers:    -   -   Pedicels.—About 2.7 cm in length and 2 mm in width, 40A in            color, surface is glabrous.        -   Flower buds.—Flattened ovoid in shape, about 3.3 cm in            length and 1.5 cm in width, 43C in color.        -   Flower size—About 5.3 cm in length and 6.3 cm in width.        -   Flower form.—Flared un-fused tepals.        -   Flower aspect.—Hanging.        -   Outer tepals.—2, ovate in shape, obtuse apex, rounded base,            average of 5.5 cm in length and 2.2 mm in width, glabrous            and smooth surface, entire margin, outer surface is 43C in            color, inner surface is 43B in color.        -   Inner tepals.—2, linear in shape recurving slightly towards            apex, obtuse apex, narrow cuneate base, average of 5.8 cm in            length and 1.2 mm in width, glabrous and smooth surface,            entire margin, outer surface is a color between 43B and 43C,            inner surface is 43B in color.        -   Stamens.—Numerous, connate and forming a tube, about 1.9 cm            in length and 1.5 mm in width, 15B in color.        -   Filaments.—About 3 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, 15A in            color.        -   Anthers.—Broadly elliptic in shape, about 1 mm in length and            <1 mm in width, 21B in color.        -   Pollen.—Abundant, 8C in color.-   Female flowers:    -   -   Pedicels.—About 3.0 cm in length and 1.5 mm in width, 41B in            color, glabrous surface.        -   Flower buds.—Ovoid and weakly flattened in shape, about 1.8            cm in length and 9 mm in width, closest to 43D in color.        -   Flower form.—Flared un-fused tepals.        -   Flower aspect.—Hanging.        -   Flower size.—About 3.3 cm in length and 4.3 cm in width.        -   Outer tepals.—2, ovate in shape, acute apex, rounded base,            average of 3.4 cm in length and 1.3 mm in width, glabrous            and smooth surface, entire margin, outer surface and inner            surface is 43B in color.        -   Inner tepals.—3, linear-elliptic in shape recurving slightly            towards apex, obtuse apex, narrow cuneate base, average of            3.7 cm in length and 1 cm in width, glabrous and smooth            surface, entire margin, outer surface and inner surface is            43B in color.        -   Styles.—3, cylindrical, connate for basal 1 mm, about 5 mm            in length and 1 mm in width, 33B in color.        -   Stigmas.—Bifid in shape and twined around extensions of            style, lobes about 8 mm in length and 1 mm in width, 17C in            color.        -   Ovaries.—Inferior, triangular in cross section with unequal            wings, about 9 mm in length and width (excluding wings),            color is 171A merging to 44D at apex of wings.        -   Seed.—Very numerous, ovate-elliptic in shape, to small to            measure, N167B in color.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Yaspmon’ asherein illustrated and described.